The Virtual Foundation thanks the donors - The First Parish at Lincoln, Massachusetts, and Paula Johnson of Massachusetts - for supporting the Potpourri project.

Final Report, Potpourri project in Honduras ``Wildflowers`` - Flowers and Employment for Single Mothers - PROYECTO DE POTPOURRI "FLORES DEL CAMPO"

CONCLUSIONS

• There is a market for potpourri, but current production techniques need to be improved.
• This small group of women is very enthusiastic. They have worked on this project for over a year, and have learned a great deal. They will participate in upcoming training sessions (August and September, 2002) during which they will create new arrangements for potpourri, and will improve the processing techniques.
• The activities of flower collection as well as our regular meetings for production and training created a window of opportunities for women to create a united group among which each member helps each other.

Context:
This project’s goal was to help single mothers to make and sell potpourri with wild flowers from their region. A-METAS’s role was to assist in the set-up of this micro-business structure, and to help in the production and marketing of the product. (A-METAS’ mission is to assist in the organization, strengthening and marketing of rural micro-businesses in Honduras.)

Number of participants: Originally, 11 single mothers who were interested in participating in the micro-enterprise showed up for the first meeting. Four of them stayed with the project, and are now working to develop the potpourri business further.

Progress of the Potpourri project

• To prepare different types of containers, such as clay vases, to hold the potpourri
• To prepare different sizes of potpourri packages, not only 8 ounce ones as was done before

• [Through the Virtual Foundation-ed.] contacts were made in the United States to obtain funds to buy the basic material needed to prepare potpourri; oils, fragrance fixing solution and a press (to dry the flowers in a flat shape)
• Techniques to dry the flowers were taught. The women selected flower types according to their colors, sizes, etc, and gave names to the different preparations of pot pourri.

III.- RESULTS OF THE PROJECT

ACTIVITY	INVESTMENT (US$)
Basic material (oils, labels, flowers, bags)	350.00
Human labor (First 3 months)	150.00
Distribution Costs	150.00
Promotion	150.00
TOTAL investment	800.00

TOTAL of sales: US $1,200.00 (with the current production process).

IV.- FUTURE OF THE PROJECT

• The organization is applying for funding at a local institution in order to improve the production process and develop new markets.
• At the moment the cooperative is working on ways to improve the quality of the drying, in order to maintain the natural colors of the flowers during the process. (The current technique needs improvement.)
• The Honduran Artisan Network` is a project promoting and selling Honduran arts and crafts through an Internet catalogue. The address is www.artisannet.org. The potpourri will be included as soon as the improved drying process has been successfully implemented.
• The potpourri will be included in an exhibition in the commercial zone of Tegucigalpa (capital of Honduras).
• Once the production process is improved, the potpourri will be sold along with candles (Velas La Luciernaga) produced by another micro-enterprise supported by A-METAS. These candles have had an established maket for the past two years.
• The women now involved would like to double the number of women to benefit from the project, from their four current members to at least eight.

• Training and advice regarding micro-enterprise management
• A-METAS will be able to invest $300.00 in August and September 2002 to work on the improvement of the production process. The women hope to be able to work and sell their production for the upcoming Christmas season.